TYPES OF CRIME FICTION

  • What type of crime fiction do I write? – I have been asked this a lot of times as it does not fit in the stereo typical image of the genre for it intertwines with several mains themed genres.
  • The main genre my book comes under is Crime Fiction. But that is a very broad genre.
  • Under this main title comes a series of subgenres many books fall into. Let’s explore them together.

 

  • Classic
  • This is a sub-genre where you have to abide by certain rules if you want this title. There is no magic in these books. There has to be a fine degree of accuracy, think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s – Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christies – Poirot. All of the clues leading to the capture of the antagonists in these books must be shown so as the reader has a good chance at pin pointing the culprit too.

 

  • Cosy (cosy)
  • This genre is very popular at the moment with its non-traditional characters, think Donald Bain’s Murder she wrote and Agatha Christies Mrs Marple. There is no gore in these books or very little, and they all focus around the mystery of the case.

 

  • Hard boiled
  • This genre is exactly what it employs. There is no holding back. This is gritty, realistic writing with extreme violence.

 

  • PI and Amateur Sleuth
  • This is a genre where the protagonist is not a professional crime investigator.

 

  • Spy thriller
  • This is a genre where the protagonist is a spook/spy. The layout is highly plotted, think Ian Fleming’s -James Bond.

 

  • Historical
  • Now this is a very strongly constructed genre with accuracy in historical events, law, power and so on in the time period featured.

 

  • Police Procedural
  • These are very factual novels full of backstory and quite often they are written by ex-professional criminologists. Think Ann Cleeve’s – Vera.

 

  • Locked-room
  • This is a very interesting subgenre as the murder is conducted within a locked room. But there are rules to writing this genre. There can be no trap doors and no hypnotism when crafting the plot. Complex.

 

  • Legal and medical
  • Both of these subgenres are based of factual accounts and events and inevitable written by ex-experts within the field of criminology.

 

  • Subgenre fusion
  • This is a novel crafted within different realms, with realism as well as murder and encompassing several different crime fiction genres.
  • Now to the subgenre heading my novel falls under – Speculative fiction. But as most of you may know within Speculative fiction there are even more sub genres such as;

 

  • Spy-fi
  • A genre with a little humour and wacky gadgets.

 

  • Transgressor Noir
  • This is a phycological relationship sub-genre with no happy ending and no hero’s.

 

  • Tartan Noir
  • This is a mix of historical crime fiction and as implied by the name is traditionally set in Scotland.

 

  • Speculative detective
  • Insinuated by the name this genre revolves around the detective as he engages in a mystery.
  • This last one, although there are many more, is the category of my work; Speculative Noir Crime Fiction. Other titles that fall into this category are JK Rowling’s – Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett’s – Diskworld. As it is categorised as a genre with paranormal, fantastical, futuristic or magical elements centred around a murder/ crime.
  • So, here endeth your lesson in Crime Fiction genres – I hope it hasn’t been too intense and that learning some of the genres can help you decide on the right books within the libraries and book stores.
  • Hearts and kisses

 

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